Checklists 
                                   
         From the book: Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book 
                          for Smart People 
                       Book by Ken Watanabe 
          
          
         Create a Logic Tree 
         The finished tree grows bigger from left to right. 
         ❏ List whatever comes to mind on a piece of paper.  
         ❏ Group major topics on the left. 
         ❏ Moving to more minor or limited topics to the right. 
         ❏ Group similar topics together. 
         ❏ Create more branches. 
         ❏ Ask yourself “What can I call this group to sum it up?”  
         ❏ Draw a branch to the left and write the name of that group.  
         ❏ For each bigger topic ask, “Specifically what or how?”  
         ❏ Add sub-branches out to the right. 
          
         Solution for Root Causes 
         ❏ Diagnose the situation and identify the root cause of the problem.  
              ❏ List all the potential root causes of the problem. 
                  ❏ Build a Yes/No tree. 
                      ❏ Write down questions. 
                      ❏ Does a y/n answer lead to an explanation or another 
                         question? 
                      ❏ Create buckets of answers for possible explanations. 
              ❏ Develop a hypothesis for the likely root cause. 
              ❏ Determine the analyses and information required to test the 
                 hypothesis.  
                  ❏ Clarify the questions you are trying to answer. 
                  ❏ Do environmental research. 
                  ❏ Interview people, if needed. 
                  ❏ Develop a design plan. 
                  ❏ Write the design plan on paper. 
              ❏ Analyze and identify the root cause.  
                  ❏ Summarize the difference between the original hypothesis and 
                     the actual results of the research. 
                  ❏ Analyze the feedback from interviews. 
         ❏ Develop a solution. 
              ❏ Develop a wide variety of solutions to solve the problem.  
                  ❏ Create a logic tree. 
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           ❏ Prioritize actions.  
              ❏ Make key criteria the potential impact of the action and its ease 
                 of implementation. 
           ❏ Develop an implementation plan. 
              ❏ Ask others to help. 
        
       BREAK DOWN A BIG DREAM INTO SMALLER GOALS 
        ❏ Set a clear goal.  
           ❏ Write a goal statement. 
           ❏ Specify what, how and when to obtain the requirements to start. 
           ❏ Write down specific conditions. 
        ❏ Determine the gap between the goal and the current situation.  
           ❏ Calculate how to achieve the goal. 
        ❏ Form a hypothesis about how to close the gap and achieve the goal.  
           ❏ List as many options and ideas as possible.  
           ❏ Use the logic tree 
           ❏ Select the best ideas as the hypothesis.  
              ❏ Cut out the ideas that are not clearly effective or feasible, or if 
                 they go against your values. 
              ❏ Make a hypothesis pyramid  
                  ❏ Place the conclusion or main message at the top 
                  ❏ list the supporting rationales on the bottom 
        ❏ Check the hypothesis. (Go back to step 3 if the hypothesis is disproved.)  
           ❏ Determine the analyses and information required to test the 
              hypothesis.  
              ❏ Use a problem-solving design plan 
           ❏ Analyze and develop an action plan. 
              ❏ How much can you reduce? 
       PROS AND CONS; CRITERIA AND EVALUATION 
       Pros and Cons 
        ❏ List all the options. 
        ❏ List the pros and cons of each of the options. 
        ❏ Weigh each of the positive and negative points listed. 
        ❏ Select the most attractive option. 
       Criteria and Evaluation 
        ❏ List all the options. 
        ❏ List the evaluation criteria. 
        ❏ Decide the degree of importance of each criterion. 
        ❏ Evaluate each option based on the Weighted Criteria. 
        ❏ Select the most attractive option. 
        
       Execution 
        ❏ Create a Schedule. 
           ❏ Indicate everything you are going to do. 
           ❏ Indicate when you plan to do it. 
        ❏ Monitor the progress and revise the plan if needed. 
        
        
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       To deliver consistently, we have lots of things, for example, checklists like these 
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